Connecting unit for connecting to first and second interfaces, where the connecting unit comprises an internal conductor disposed within a housing formed by half-shell construction

Abstract

A connecting unit for radio-frequency components has: a housing; a first interface and a second interface which are arranged on the housing and are designed to be coupled to in each case one radio-frequency component; an internal conductor which runs in the housing and is connected to the first interface and the second interface in order to establish a radio-frequency connection between the first interface and the second interface; a spacer which surrounds the internal conductor and extends at least along a portion of the length of the internal conductor. The housing is manufactured from an electrically conductive and rigid material and the spacer is arranged such that the internal conductor is at a distance from the housing at least in sections.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A connecting unit for radio-frequency components, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a first interface and a second interface arranged on the housing and configured to be coupled to a first radio-frequency component and a second radio-frequency component, respectively; 
 an internal conductor located within the housing and connected to the first interface and the second interface in order to establish a radio-frequency connection between the first interface and the second interface; and 
 a spacer surrounding the internal conductor and extending at least along a portion of the length of the internal conductor, 
 wherein the housing is manufactured from a first electrically conductive and rigid material, 
 wherein the spacer is arranged such that the internal conductor is at a distance from the housing, 
 wherein the internal conductor comprises at least two subsections connected to one another by a connection, 
 wherein the connection is a force-fitting or frictional connection, and 
 wherein the housing comprises two half-shells connected to one another along a joint. 
 
     
     
       2. The connecting unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first electrically conductive and rigid material of the housing is at least partially composed of aluminum. 
 
     
     
       3. The connecting unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the internal conductor is composed of a second electrically conductive material, and 
 wherein the second electrically conductive material of the internal conductor contains at least one of the following materials or a combination of the said materials: aluminum, brass, copper, silver, or gold. 
 
     
     
       4. The connecting unit according to  claim 3 , wherein a surface of the internal conductor is coated with a layer of silver or gold. 
     
     
       5. A radio-frequency unit, comprising:
 the first radio-frequency component and the second radio-frequency component; and 
 the connecting unit according to  claim 1 ; 
 wherein the connecting unit electrically connects the first radio-frequency component and the second radio-frequency component to one another. 
 
     
     
       6. The radio-frequency unit according to  claim 5 , wherein the first radio-frequency component is a preamplifier and the second radio-frequency component is a power amplifier. 
     
     
       7. A satellite comprising a radio-frequency unit according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
       8. The connecting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer contains an electrically insulating material. 
     
     
       9. The connecting unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the electrically insulating material of the spacer is a plastic, a polyether ketone or a polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
       10. The connecting unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third radio-frequency component located in the housing and arranged between two of the at least two subsections of the internal conductor and also electrically connected to the two of the at least two subsections. 
     
     
       11. The connecting unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first interface is a coaxial connector or a waveguide, and 
 wherein the second interface is a coaxial connector or a waveguide.